Have Your Cake and Eat It, Too: Area Bakeries With Gluten-Free Sweets

Take it from me: It’s tough being a gluten-free girl in a very wheaty world. Besides having limited entrée options (no pizza, pasta, or sandwiches), my taste buds are going through a sweets withdrawal. I covet but never consume cupcakes, while brownies have become the star of my hunger-driven daydreams.

Given my dessert addiction, I was ecstatic to discover gluten-free cupcakes at Love Café (part of the local CakeLove chain) on DC’s U Street. And as it turns out, a few other bakeries around the area offer tasty alternatives for those of us who can’t eat wheat. Here are some of them.

Buzz BakeryAlong with its regular offerings, this bakery has gluten-free vanilla and chocolate cupcakes ($2.75 each) with buttercream flavors including espresso, raspberry, and coconut. Buzz also makes gluten-free brownies ($2.50) and Gluten Free Bird brownies ($3), which are made with fudge, espresso, and nuts. Gluten-free cakes can be custom-made in 48 hours; contact Buzz for prices.901 Slaters Ln., Alexandria; 703-600-2899.

CakeLoveAll CakeLove locations sell gluten-free vanilla and chocolate cupcakes ($3.50 each), and customers can special-order gluten-free layer cakes and cheesecakes (contact CakeLove for prices). CakeLove is considering expanding its gluten-free selection to include cake by the slice ($7.50 each). If enough customers are interested, it could become part of the regular menu.Locations in Silver Spring, Tysons Corner, Shirlington, and on DC's U Street.

Hello CupcakeThis new Dupont Circle bakery features a different flavor of gluten-free cupcake each week. Last week was carrot cake (cutely named 24 Carrot), and this week it’s a vanilla cupcake with buttercream frostings changing daily.1351 Connecticut Ave., NW; 202-861-2253.

Sticky Fingers BakeryYour fingers are bound to be sticky after one of these gluten-free chocolate or spice cupcakes ($2 each, $22.80 for a dozen). Sticky Fingers, a vegan bakery, also sells gluten-free chocolate-chip cookies ($1.75 each, $19.95 for a dozen) and cakes ($30 to $45). 1370 Park Rd., NW; 202-299-9700.

Know of other gluten-free spots in the area? Let us know in the comments section!